Broken Wings

Chapter 3: Youthful Ambitions

Ruby rushed at the kissing pair and grabbed Marion by the hair. “Stop it! It's not how it looks!" Leroy yelled at Ruby. She turned away from Marion and gave Leroy a resounding slap in the face, before walking away from the well.

“What's wrong with her?" Marion began, but Leroy was now running after Ruby, trying to explain himself.

“You have to listen to me," Leroy begged. “I thought I was going to meet you, but then she was there and she came on to me," he explained with a pained expression on his face.

“Well I did not see you protesting that kiss!" Ruby yelled back at him.

Leroy gave up on trying to defend his actions on that day. When he tried phoning Ruby on the following morning before school though, he discovered that she had blocked him.

*

Claude was living on his uncle's farm ever since his mother had passed away in France two years ago. Claude made friends at the new school quickly. His family owned a fashion business with shops worldwide and so Claude liked to talk to girls about fashion.

He was looking to start a relationship with a girl who was talented and reasonably intelligent. He himself was good at hockey. Everyone was talking about how great a singer Ruby Sinclair was, but she had a boyfriend.

On the afternoon that Claude overheard two boys in the bathroom talk about going after Ruby, because she had just broken up with her boyfriend, Claude decided to take his chance immediately. She was so attractive and sexy.

He approached Ruby as she was walking towards the school library. “Hey Ruby!" he called out excitedly.

“Hi Claude," she returned, but he could see that she was in a hurry.

“Mind if I joined you to study together? I promise not to talk too much?" Claude asked politely.

Ruby looked at him and nodded. She did not have much time to spend in the library. She did not want company these days, so Claude would find that his time with her this afternoon would be very short.

“I'm going to make a few photocopies," she announced over her shoulder.

“No problem," Claude responded. “Let me help you find the book you are looking for." Ruby was caught off guard at this point.

“Oh, I can find it quickly, don't worry," she said.

“What book are you looking for?" Claude asked, unperturbed by her stalling tactics.

“A Biology book," Ruby muttered. She had not reckoned on his sense of perseverance. Claude found a few Biology books from a shelf very quickly. It was as if he had prepared for this, but that was unlikely.

They moved over to the photocopy machine and Claude helped her make the required number of photocopies very quickly.

“Wow! You are really good at this," Ruby remarked reluctantly.

“Your wish is my command," Claude responded with a sweeping bow.

“Can I walk you to the bus stop?" he offered further. Ruby decided to relent, because the bus was coming shortly anyway.

“You're welcome," she responded with a tight smile.

“So do you plan on studying music further after school and carry your talent further?" Claude asked with his head to the side. The wind was blowing his jaw length blonde waves rather charmingly as they walked. Ruby noticed that he had an angelic appearance, with his clear, grey eyes.

“I plan to sing for my entire life, if possible. So, yes I will go and study further at university," she declared with determination.

"You will go far," Claude said, just as the bus came around the corner.

"Thanks Claude," Ruby replied.

“I will be seeing you at school tomorrow then," Claude said as Ruby quickly joined the other children waiting at the bus stop.

“Okay, goodbye then Claude!" she called out over the noise of the bus engine. Claude waved at her.

That had not gone bad at all, he thought to himself.

On the following day Claude made time to sneak off and go to listen to the choir practicing in the hall. Ruby noticed him immediately. “Do you want to join us, dear?" the music teacher asked afterwards, before he could get to Ruby.

“I'm still just thinking about it, Ma'am," he responded shyly.

“Well let me know when you are ready," the music teacher said with a pat on his shoulder.

“Ruby, hold up!" Claude called at Ruby, as she headed for her next class a few minutes later. He ran to catch up with her. “Would you like to go to a French restaurant in the city next weekend? It's my birthday and my uncle said I could bring a friend along. It will only be immediate family. Please say you would come?" Claude pleaded with a mock desperate expression on his face.

"I will have to ask my parents first, since it's in the city," Ruby responded with a laugh. Claude was really funny.

*

Ruby enjoyed meeting Claude's uncle and aunt. The restaurant was also really elegant. “So you really are quite a talented singer, I hear," Claude's uncle remarked at the beginning of their meal.

Ruby merely blushed at this. “We sometimes have launches for new wines. It surely would be an honour to have you sing for us at such an event," he continued.

“Oh, thank you," Ruby responded with a smile in his direction. “It would be my pleasure."

“Are you enjoying your meal?" Claude asked Ruby after a while. It was mainly French cuisine.

“Oh, absolutely. I could get used to this," Ruby responded with a giggle. She wondered if the champagne was going to her head.

After lunch Ruby and Claude were allowed to go and watch an ice skating show, before going back home.

“Have you done much ice skating yourself?" Ruby asked Claude, as they were both mesmerized with the beauty and skill of the champion skaters.

“In France, yes. Locally I come here on isolated occasions only," Claude responded demurely. Ruby wondered why he was so modest.

“I myself would absolutely love to skate quite often, but I have my music to consider," she commented.

“I must say I admire your sense of discipline," Claude commented, as he looked into Ruby's eyes.

"You don't mix with the girls at school a lot, I notice," Claude commented. "Is it because of your music lessons, or do you not like their company?"

"Oh, one can get in trouble if one mixes with just anyone," Ruby responded.

"That's true," Claude agreed, before carrying on: “Do you know that Zureicka Jones is a part time model?" he asked. They were now walking back to the car.

“Yes, I know," Ruby responded uncertainly. She wondered where this was going.

“Well, she came to model at our wine launch a few weeks ago and drank a bit too much," Claude continued.

“It turns out that she is jealous of you," he added.

“Jealous of me?" Ruby replied in amazement. Zureicka was quite attractive, with her long, curly, raven colour hair and piercing, hazel eyes.

“She threatened me with a knife, when she realized that I was not interested in her," Claude commented, as they both got into the car.

“I mentioned your name and your talent and that was just too much for her," Claude continued. “She actually hid under my bed with a knife and surprised me, just after I had drifted off to sleep," Claude looked straight at Ruby when he said this.

“You mean she's actually dangerous?" Ruby asked with concern. She felt unsafe and shocked.

“Yes she is. Apparently she's on treatment now, but just watch out for her. She is definitely insecure and jealous of you," Claude concluded.

"Oh, a teacher once turned Zureicka down at an audition," Ruby mentioned. “But, how come nobody knows about this attack?" Ruby asked incredulously.

“My uncle and I agreed not to cause her the embarrassment, as long as she and her dad agreed that she would go for psychological treatment. So, just take a lookout for her at school," Claude advised. “You never know what's next with someone like her."

Ruby was shocked at this news. “Is that why you took me out today? To warn me?" she asked with concern.

“No, that just came up in my mind now. I really wanted to share this day with you, Ruby," Claude said with a sincere expression in his eyes. He then gave her a quick kiss on the lips, before his uncle and his wife returned.

Ruby did not say no when Claude asked her out on another date. Ruby enjoyed talking to him about any subject under the sun. They laughed together a lot and walked on the beach holding hands.

*

Chris had heard about Ruby's breakup with Leroy and really wanted her to be his Prom date next year. Chris decided to phone her, but was surprised when a male voice, other than her father's answered. Was Leroy then back in her life? “Who's this?" Chris barked out.